"I have to agree if Beauagard had allowed the "supply" ships to dock at Sumter, and the mission was exposed for what it was"
George,
That time period is full of "what if's". I think that many of our southern friends don't think Lincoln was sincer in his letter to Gov. Pickens in regards to resupplying the fort. As well as many who don't think he was being truthful when in his first inaugral speech he said that he did not intend to interfer with slavery in the STATES where it exisited. Those are questions we will have to ponder for a long time. I happen to think he was speaking truth. Perhaps you think the opposite. That brings us to an impass.
You would blame Lincoln and the north and I think it was caused by certain people in the south and not necessarily the government leaders. Rather I would point my finger at the wealthy Planter/slave holders who feared loosing their wealth if they lost their slaves and the truth is that in the end, they did loose their wealth when they lost their slaves.
As an example, in 1860 Mississippi was the wealthest state in the nation, by 1870 she was the poorest. The difference being the loss of the slaves. In 1860 there were just over 100 millionaires in the US. More than 50 of them lived in SOuth Carolina and most in or near Charleston. That helps me to see why the people of Charleston were so upset and wanted the US troops out of there. Thats just my perspective on things, you probably see things in a different light. Do you think we will ever convice each other to change our views? :)
Frank